Earth-anchor tool



April 14, 1931. A. B. CHANCE EARTH ANCHOR TOOL F'iled'Feb. 4,` 1929Patented Apr. 14, 1931 PAT,

ALBERT B. CHANCE, or GENTRALIA, Missoula EARTH-Anemia 'rooL s fApplication filed February 4, 1929. Serial 1111.331517.

'i 5 l the installation of earth anchors of the screw type' it isnecessary to use a wrench having a body or shankl of considerablelength, as the depth at which the anchor is y place-d is-limitedby'the'length of the wrench used-"in screwingthe anchor into place;

' am aware that screw anchor wrenches have been provided with handleswhich slide-up and down on the body of the wrench but the wrenchesofthe'fprior artare not provided 75 with Aany -nieans for retaining themat the desired height and it is necessary with the prior wrenches togiven constant attention to the maintenanceof the ywrench at the vproper height.l l i f The screw anchors of the prior art have also beenvprovided with ordinary square sockets or sockets of other simplenon-'circular form for use with a complementary wrench, but as theanchors are usually constructed of cast metal andas the sockets aresubjected to heavy strains in driving a screw anchor into the ground,the wrenches of the prior art anchors 'oftenlturn completely out of thesocket and Vdestroy the walls of the socket. It is obvious of coursethat thegthickness of the walls of the sockety or the'depth ofY thesocket might be increased to increase the strength, but any increase inthe size ofthe anchor renders it more difficult to drive andalso anystrength is of great commercial advantage.

One of the objects or the invention is the provision of a castmetalrscrew anchor of 4 the class described, having an improved formprising a non-circular vsocketitor the wrench and a plurality ofradially projecting lugs n saving of material without sacrice orv ofconnectionr with an actuating wrench comadapted 'to withstandy theextreme strainsy placed upon it indriving screw anchors into the groundand which is also provided with an improved actuating means for enablingthe operator to most effectively apply turn'- ing force toY the wrenchandscrew anchor.

Y Anotherrobject is the provision of a novel wrench and socket formwhich is adapted to increase the strength of the anchor to prevent thewrench from turning out of the socket;

under heavy size or cost o lAnother object isr'the provision strains,without increasing the fthe anchor.

of an im-I proved screw, anchor wrench including a transverse handlewhich is readily adjustable longitudinally of the wrench at any timeduring the installation of the anchor by the mere application of anaXialforce so that the han# dle may always be disposed at the moste'ective height without loss of time, together with means forresiliently securing'the handle in adjusted position so that the handlewillbe i automatically maintained in the desired position withoutspecial effort of the operator.

Another object is the provision of a novel form of adapter for enablingthe' useor" the wrench with dierent-forms of anchors and for increasingthe effective strength of the connectionbetween the wrench and anchor.

Other objects and' advantages of the'invention will be apparent Jfromthe following de scription and from the `accompanying drawings inwhichsimilar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring Figure ly i sr orlflelaf 'Y sectionshowing the improvedwrench'in con- 5 nection with Figure 2 i an anchor; y s a top'plan viewof the anchor used with this wrench;` Y v is a bottom end view of theFigure 3 wrench.;

Figure is a. sectional view taken on th line 4.-4 of Figure 1; 1

Figure 5 is an enlarged a plane at right angles to the plane of FigureYdetail view taken on 1 through the wrench handle; and

Figure 6 1 s a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings 10 indicates in its entirety my anchor which comprises acast metal member having a central body of substantially cylindricalshape terminating yin a point 12 which may have the shape of a pyramid.Cast integrally with the body 11 is a substantially flat flange Y13projecting atrapproximately right angles to the axis of the body 11 andprogressing alongthe axis in the form of a screw. The external outline14 of the flange 13 is preferably circular andthe flange may makeapproximately one revolution about the body 11 terminating below in therelatively sharp forward edge 15. The flange 13 is alsoV preferablytapered from the outer edge 14 to a greater thickness as at 164 adjacentthe body .11, thereby increasing the strength of the Harige inproportion to the dis tance from the outer edge.

The body of the body 11 and flange 13 is preferably formed of cast ironand in order to provide a means of connection to a guy rod V17 which isvof greater strength than permitted by the cast iron I prefer to locate asteel member, punching or ringlS within the body 11 of the anchor insuch manner that the bore 19 of the steel member is located axially ofthe anchor and the steel member 18 is embedded in the metalof'the bodyand secured by engage'- ment therewith above and below said member asWell as on the s ides of said member.` In other words the blank may besupported in the mold upon the core used for forming the bore 21, andthe anchor body is cast about the blank..

The steel member 18 may consist of a blank Y having a bore and the boreand adjacent portions of the bore 21 in the body 11 may be threaded atthe same time..` The guy rod 17 is provided with a threaded end 20 whichis adapted to be received in the threaded aperture 19 of the steelmember 18 and the body 11 is provided with an aligned Vbore 21 extendingabove andbelow the steel member 18 to receive the guy rod 17. f

The body 11 is provided at its upper end with anon-circular recess orsocket 22 which is adapted to receive a complementary noncircular end`23 of a wrench 24. The socket 22 is preferably rectangular though itmay be to provide the socket 22 with a plurality of auxiliary recesses25 communicating with said socket at the sides thereof and extendinginto thebody 11 to a greater distance from the axis Vof the anchor. Thewrench end 23 is then formed with complementary projecting lugs 26 whichlit in the recesses 25 and any number of lugs and auxiliary recesses maybe employed.

It will thus be observed that not only do the auxiliary recesses andlugs provide an additional bearing surface through which the wrench mayreact upon the anchor-in the screwing operation, but the lugs engage theanchorvat a greater distance from the axis of the same so that t-he lugshave a longer lever arm with which to engage the anchor. The longerlever arm of the lugs enables them to exert a greater torque upon theanchor 10 without destruction of the socket or wrench and this structurehas enabled-the installation of anchors in places where ordinary anchorscould not be embedded due to unusual difficulties in embedding theminthe earth. Y.

The wrench end 23 may be provided with a projecting flange 40 adapted`to bear against the upper surface of the anchor body 11 and to aid infixing the wrench end in a supporting member 27. VThe wrench which isindicated in its entirety at 24 comprises a tubular supporting member 27preferably of rectangular cross-section and adapted to receive thesquare portion 41 of the 'wrenchA end. The wrench end 23 may be securelyfastened in thetubular'supporting member27 by a transverse rivet 42 and"the tubular supporting member may be provided with ya plurality ofrecesses 43 for engaging with an adjustable slide 44 carrying a handle45.V The slide 44 comprises acastrmetal member having anoncircularaperture 46 adapted to slidably receive the tubular supporting member27of the wrench andV also having a transverse bore 47 for receiving thetubular handle 45. The tubular handle 45 may be slidably mounted in thebore 47, being retained therein by stops at each end consisting oftransverse rivets 48 and the provision of a slidable handleenables theuse ofmy anchor wrench inmany places in which another handle could notbeturned.

The slider 44 is also provided with a'socket 49 formed integrally withthe slider and com-A municating with. the non-circular bore 46. Thesocket 49 has a centrally located bore 50 Y of sulicient size to receivea threaded bolt 51 without engagingits threads. The threaded bolt 51 isprovided with a serrated knob 52 for convenient manipulation and with asuhstantially conical end53 adapted to fit in the conical recesses 43.Threaded upon the bolt 51 within thev socket 49 is a noncircular nut 54and the .cross-section of the socket- 49 is preferably made of the sameshape as the nut 54 in order to receive said nut and'prevent itsrotation but permit reciprocation.

The bolt 51 is also provided Witha spring 55 preferably of helical formand Vconfined between the nut 54 and the end of thev socket 49. It willthus be observed that by means of the knob 52 the bolt 51 may be screwedi11-4 y bolt outward. f

ward and the socket 49 will prevent rotation of the nut 54 so thatthenut will progress upon the bolt. The'bolt 51 can be screwed extent thatits end 53 will firmly- It will thus be observed that the wrench isprovided with a handle having a slidable connection to the body of thewrench and resilient means for retaining the wrench in any of aVpluralityl of adjustable positions. The sides of the recesses 43constitutel shoulders upon the tubular body 27 for retaining the handle45 in any vertical position but-the handle may be moved upward ordownward to anew adi justed position by the mere application of an axialforce.

The handle 45 is also slidably supported in the slider 44 so that ifdesired the handle may be moved to project almost entirely from one sideof the wrench so that the operator can brinoa greater torque to bearupon the wreich. When the handle is in this position or while the handleis being adjusted the automatic retaining device is of great advantage.v

The rivets 48 constitute stops for preventing the entire removal of thehandle from its supi port 44.

The operation of the wrench in the installation of an anchor is asfollows:

The anchor and'wrench may be held in assembled position duringthe'operation of installing the anchor by means of a guy rod 17 whichmay be threaded at its upper end 32 for the reception of a thimble eye33. The thimble eye 33 has the usual grooved aperture 34 to receive theguy wire and a threaded bore 35 adapted to be threaded on the end 32 ofthe guy rod. It will thus be observed that the wrench 24 may be placedabout the guy rod 17 afterA which the guy rod may have its lower end 20threaded in the bore 19 of the anchor. The thimble eye 33 may then bethreaded upon the upper end of the guy rod, clamping the tubular member27 between the anchor and the thimble eye and firmly assembling theseparts. f

The anchor may then be installed in the usual manner by holding thevaxis of the.

wrench in substantial alignment with the top' of the post forcing thepoint 12 into the earth and turning the anchor by means' of the handle45. rIlhe point12 of the anchor penetrates the earth, wedging `the earthapart while the forward edge 15 of the helix cuts into the earthdefining the course of the flange 30 and directing the anchor through ahelical path into theearth. The anchor may thus be-s'crewed `intoQ-theearth after whichthe thimble eye maybe removed'and the `wrench removedover the upper end 32 of the guy rod 17 and the thimble eye'may bereplaced. l

The guy wire may then be attached to the thimble eye 33 in the usualmanner.

During the installation rof the anchor the handle 45 may beA slid to anew'position on the wrench 24 whenever desired, beingautomaticallyretained by the vresilient bolt 51, thereby providing ahandle which is always at a convenient height for manipulation. Ifdesired the handle may be firmly fixed'in any position by threadingthebolt 51 into the nut 54 untily the nut 54 compressescoils of spring' 55against eachother so that the handle is firmly fixed inl place.

It will thus be observed that a ywrench ofA the present i constructionvy isf" peculiarly adapted tol withstand greater strains intheinstallation of anchorsso that the vwrench is not liable to turn outk ofits socket and the wrench is 'also provided -withI a novel handlesupporting mechanism adapted to resiliently retain the handle in anyadjustedwposition vwithout special eff' ort on the part of the operator.The wrench end 23 may also perform the function of an adapter forfacilitating the use ofthe wrench with the Adifferent types of anchors,since the wrench may be provided.

with any adapter necessary to fit the Vsocket of any other anchor. Y,

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of myinvention, many modifications may be maderwithout departing from thespirit of the invention, and I do not wish to bellimited to the precisedetails of construction setforth, but desire to avail myself of allchanges within the scope j Y of the appended claims. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new kand desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a screw anchorthe combination of a Y cast metal member having a helical flangethereon, with a wrench for screwing said anchor into the earth, saidwrench comprising amember axially secured to said anchor and atransverse handle slidably mounted on said axial member, and resilientmeans adapted to be cammed out of holding engagement with said axialmember by application of .an axial forcefor holding said transversehandle in any of a plurality of adjusted positions on y said axialmember.

2. A wrench for driving earth .anchors and' j the like, comprising ashaft for supporting an anchor, a transverse handle member, a metalmember slidably mounted on said shaft for supporting said handle member,said metal memberv having a ysocket therein, and an aperture leading tosaid socket, athreaded member in said socket, a bolt in said threadedmember and projecting from said f aperture, and a; conical point on said`bolt for engaging complementary socketsin said shaft' for engagementwith said bolt.

3. A wrench for driving earth anchors and the like, comprising a shaftfor supporting an anchor, a transverse handle member, a metal memberslidably mounted on said Shaft for supporting said handle member, saidmeta-ljmember having a socket therein, and an aperture leading to saidsocket, .a threaded member inV said socket, a bolt in said threadedmember kand projectingfrom said aperture, shoulders formed on said shaftfor engagement with said bolt, and a springten- .sioned between saidthreaded member and the base of said socket whereby the tension of saidspring may be adjusted by rotating said bolt.

Y Y 4. A handle support for earth, Yanchor wrenches comprising a castmetal member having anaperture for a shaft and an aperture for a handletransverse to said shaft, said member having a socket communicating withsaid shaft aperture and another .aperture communicating with saidsocket, a spring in said socket, a latching member yslidably mounted insaid socket and biased into said shaft aperture b said spring, saidlatching member comprising a threaded member protruding from said socketand a nut in said socket engaging said spring.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this th day of January,1929.A

, ALBERT B.` CHANCE.

V, Ain

